EU executives argue that even the countries that are most dependent on Russian supplies, including Austria and Slovakia, can find alternative sources in the event of a supply cut. Covering the deficit through the Turkish Stream and the supply of Russian gas to the border with Ukraine, from where it could go to Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic as part of a new agreement with Kyiv, is under consideration.
Last week, Ukraine denied that it was ready to revise the transit agreement with Russia. Europe still receives Russian gas through Ukraine and Turkey. For example, Austria gets more than half of its gas from the Russian Federation. The route through Ukraine, as before, remains a key transit route, even though the actual volume of transit through the gas pipeline was less than 40% of the agreed-upon volume.
It is noted that even without a new agreement, Gazprom might continue supplying the EU, booking short-term contracts using Ukrainian gas pipeline capacities through auctions.